March 2024 Pottstown, PA –
The Collective
“No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it.” – Halford Luccock
Letter from the Executive Director, PAED’s 2023 Annual Report
As I reflect on the economic development strides made in 2023, I think about the unknown layers that exist that the public does not see. The work of economic development is often not visible.
Projects may seem to “just happen” to the public. When the projects do not happen there can be frustration among the business community and citizens. Whether a project is successful depends heavily on the collective. Revitalization of an entire borough is complex with many layers that includes adjusting to market conditions, timelines, and budgets. Many of the projects take passion, persistence, and patience.
Without patience and the ability to see the big picture, it would be easy to be swept into the chorus, if economic development is not happening the way it should be, and personal expectations are not being met.
Often, by the time a singular project is complete, PAED is back in the shadows working on the next project. There is so much work that no one ever sees. It took ten plus years to get 215 South Washington environmentally clean, back on the tax rolls and as a location for a productive employer. It took less than an hour to talk about the project and cut the ribbon in celebration. At the beginning of 2024, there was much excitement for the former Lastik furniture store having its beautiful original facade revealed. However, there are hours, days, and months of work that must be completed before the project’s full potential is realized. Like an orchestra, all the musicians need to play their parts of the symphony, over and over until the final performance. PAED, investors, government entities, and community groups otherwise known as The Collective must play in tune with passion, persistence, and patience.
View PAED’s 2024 Annual report here.PAED_AR_2024_FINAL 040224